Display panel with novel cathode assembly

ABSTRACT

The display panel comprises first and second layers of communicating gas-filled cells having a common electrode system between them which comprises first electrodes supported in an insulating matrix. Second electrodes are disposed above the first electrodes and insulated therefrom, and third electrodes are disposed below the first electrodes and insulated therefrom.

United States Patent t Kupsky e 1 Mar. 7, 1972 [54] DISPLAY PANEL WITH NOVEL 3,206,638- 9/1965 Moore ..3l5/169 X CATHODE ASSEMBLY Primary Examiner-Roy Lake [72] Inventor: George A. Kupsky, Milford, NJ. Assistant p C. Demeo [73] Assignee: Burroughs Corporation, Detroit, Mich. Atmmey-Kennem Miller and Robert Glee [22] Filed: Dec. 11, 1969 57 ST 1 Appl- N04 884,185 The display panel comprises first and second layers of communicating gas-filled cells having a common electrode system 52 US. Cl. ..313/217, 313/220 between them which comprises first electrodes supported in [51] m H01j61/06,H01j61/30 an insulating matrix. Second electrodes are disposed above 581 Field of Search ..315/86.5, 169, 169 TV; the first electrodes and insulated therefrom, and third elec- 313/ 109.5, 193, 201, 217, 220 trodes are disposed below the first electrodes and insulated therefrom.

R f ted [56] e erences CI 8 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures UNITED STATES PATENTS Riggen ..3l5/l69 Patented March 7, 1972 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. George A. Kupsky f/ZM M ATTORNEY DISPLAY PANEL WITH NOVEL CATHODE ASSEMBLY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Display panels comprising a plurality of gas-filled cells which can be turned on selectively to display a message are known in the art, but have thus far not become commercial devices. In a recent development, a display panel has been developed which has two layers of cells, a first layer being used as a scanning or addressing layer for sequentially addressing the cells, one by one or column by column, and a second layer in which information is inserted to be displayed, and perhaps stored, as the first level is scanned. These multilayer devices have been constructed of at least four layers of glass or other insulating material with electrodes suitably positioned between them, at least two of the layers containing a matrix of closely spaced apertures which serveas gas cells. Although these devices have been built and operated successfully, there is a need to provide economies by eliminating component parts, such as one or both of the apertured glass plates.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briefly, a display panel embodying the invention includes a gas-filled envelope and further includes within the envelope as a basic building block, an insulating matrix which carries a plurality ofconductive members operable as electrodes. Other electrodes are operatively coupled to the electrodes in the matrix to form operative gas cells.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an exploded view ofa display panel embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view along the lines 2-2 in FIG. 1 but showing the panel assembled;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view, taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a portion of a modification of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of another modification of the invention; and

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of still another modification of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS It is to be understood that the display panel described herein may have substantially any desired size and shape, and it may include substantially any number of display cells. The panel may also include any suitable ionizable gas such as neon, argon, xenon, etc., singly or in combination. A metal, such as mercury, is also usually included in the gas to minimize cathode sputtering.

In addition, in the following description of the operation of the invention, reference is made to scanning from cell to cell or glow transfer from cell to cell. This is to be construed to mean either that glow in one cell is actually transferred from an ON cell to an OFF cell, and the OFF cell turns ON, or that glow in one cell produces excited particles and metastable atoms which diffuse from an 0N cell to an adjacent OFF cell and can be used to facilitate the firing and turning ON of the adjacent cell.

A display panel 10 embodying the invention, referring to FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, includes a bottom plate and a top-viewing plate 20, of insulating material such as glass or ceramic, an array of lower electrodes 60, an array of upper electrodes 60', and a center electrode assembly 70.

In panel 10, which represents one embodiment of the invention, top and bottom plate 20 have identical parallel grooves or slots 30 and 30 cut into their facing surfaces in which the upper electrodes 60' and lower electrodes 60, respectively, are secured.

The electrodes 60 and 60 may be wires, flat strips, or the like, and they may be plated, evaporated, or otherwise formed in the slots. However, these electrodes are preferably wires which are secured in place by a cement, a fused glass frit, or by any suitable means.

The center electrode assembly 70 comprises a plurality of electrode strips embedded in an insulating matrix of glass or the like. Each electrode strip 80 includes a plurality of apertures disposed along their lengths, one for each electrode 60, 60, with a portion of the top and bottom surfaces lll and 112, respectively, around each aperture being free of insulating material to provide free electrode surface. These exposed portions of electrodes 80 are thus disposed below the top and bottom surfaces 113 and 114, respectively, of the glass matrix 90. The electrodes 80 are normally used as cathodes in operation of panel Ill and, in such use, the glass coating on the major portion of each electrode strip 80 localizes cathode glow and prevents the spurious spread of cathode glow along a cathode from a cell which is energized to unenergized adjacent cells. The glass matrix 90 can also be used to space adjacent parts from each other, as will be described below.

Assembly 70 is set in place between plates 20 and 20 and oriented so that the electrodes 80 are at 90 to the electrodes 60 and 60. Thus, each electrode 80 crosses each of the electrodes 60 and 60', and each aperture in the electrodes 80 is positioned between an electrode 60 and an electrode 60 at such crossing.

Each such crossing of an electrode 80 with electrodes 60 and 60' defines a gas cell. Thus, panel 10 includes an array of lower cells 120, each defined by a portion of each electrode 60, a portion of an electrode 80, and the volume of gas between them. The panel also includes an array of upper cells defined by a portion of each electrode 60 and a portion of electrode- 80 beneath it and the gas between them. Each lower cell 120 is thus vertically aligned with an upper cell 120' above it. i

In the completed panel 10, the various plates 20 and 20 and the electrode assembly 70 are suitably sealed together around their edges by means of a glass frit or the like 124 to form a gastight seal.

Since the top and bottom surfaces 113 and 114 of the glass matrix 90 of the electrode assembly 70 are spaced from the exposed metallic surfaces of the electrodes 80 at the apertures 100, the electrodes 60 and 60' may be seated directly on the bottom and top surfaces 114 and 113, respectively, as shown in FIG. 4, in which case, the bottom and top plates 20 and 20 of the panel envelope may be unslotted. However, in this modification, if a scanning mode of operation is to be employed, as described below, horizontal slots equivalent to slots 30 are provided in the lower surface 114 of glass matrix 90 extending from each lower cell 120 to the adjacent lower cell in the adjacent column.

Alternatively, only the top electrodes 60' could be seated directly on the glass matrix 90, with the bottom electrodes 60 seated in slots 30 in plate 20, as in FIG. 5. In this case, top plate 20 couldbe unslotted. In still another arrangement, bottom electrodes 60 could be seated directly on the glass 90, with electrode 60 being seated in slots 30' in top plate 20, as shown in FIG. 6. In this case, bottom plate 20 need not be slotted, but slots 160 are provided in glass matrix 90.

The panels described herein are particularly suited for a type of operation described and claimed in copending application Ser. No. 850,984, filed Aug. 18, 1969. In this mode of operation, electrodes 60 are operated as anodes, electrodes 80 are operated as cathodes, and electrodes 60 are operated as anodes. Briefly, in operation, the anodes 60 are connected together to means for applying generally positive operating potential thereto, and each of the cathodes 60 has generally negative operating potential applied to it in turn to cause each column of lower cells 120 to fire and glow. This scanning operation is carried out cyclically through each column of cells, and the transfer of glow from each column of cells to the next is facilitated by the generation of excited particles which diffuse from ON cells through slots 30 or 160 (FIG. 4) to the adjacent OFF cells 80. The OFF cells are primed thereby and await the application of turn-on potential, at which time, they can fire readily. When it is desired to fire cells 120 in the upper layer, to represent the display ofinformation or the like, generally positive operating potentials are applied to selected anodes 60, and glow transfers from the associated cells 120 through apertures 100 in cathode electrodes 80 to the cells 120 where the glow can be viewed through top plate 20.

What is claimed is:

l. A gas-filled display panel comprising a top glass plate,

a bottom glass plate, and

a center glass plate,

all of said glass plates being sealed together about their peripheries,

an array of first parallel electrodes disposed between said top plate and said centerplate,

an array of second parallel electrodes disposed between said bottom plate and said centerplate, each first electrode being coplanar with and positioned above a second electrode,

an array of third parallel electrodes embedded in said centerplate and insulated from said first and second elec trodes, said third electrodes comprising metallic strips having apertures along their lengths and oriented at 90 to said first and second electrodes,

each third electrode in the vicinity of each aperture being vertically aligned with a portion of each first electrode and each second electrode, said portion of a second electrode and said portion of the associated third electrode comprising a first lower cell and said portion of said first electrode and said portion of the associated third electrode comprising a second upper cell, said second elec' trodes and said third electrodes forming an array of rows and columns of lower cells, said first electrodes and said third electrodes forming an array of rows and columns of upper cells, each upper cell being generally vertically aligned with a lower cell.

2. The panel defined in claim 1 wherein said first electrodes are seated on the top surface of said centerplate and said second electrodes are seated on the bottom surface of said centerplate.

3. The panel defined in claim 1 wherein said second electrodes are seated in slots in said bottom plate and said first electrodes are seated on the top surface ofsaid centerplate.

4. The panel defined in claim 1 wherein said first electrodes are seated in slots in said top plate and said second electrodes are seated on the bottom surface of said centerplate.

5. The panel defined in claim 1 wherein said second electrodes are seated in slots in said bottom plate and said first electrodes are seated in slots in said top plate.

6. A gas-filled display panel comprising a top glass plate,

a bottom glass plate,

a center glass plate,

all of said glass plates being sealed together along their peripheries,

an array of first electrodes disposed between said top plate and said centerplate,

an array of second electrodes disposed between said bottom plate and said centerplate,

said first electrodes and said second electrodes being parallel to each other, with each first electrode being aligned with a second electrode, and

an array of third electrodes embedded in said centerplate and insulated from said first and second electrodes, said third electrodes including apertures which provide a gas communication path from each second electrode to a first electrode,

said third electrodes being oriented at an angle to said first and second electrodes so that each third electrode crosses each of said first and second electrodes, each crossing comprising a gas cell.

7. A gas-filled display panel comprising a top glass plate, a bottom g ass plate,

a center glass plate,

all of said glass plates being sealed together along their peripheries,

an array of first electrodes disposed between said top plate and said centerplate,

an array of second electrodes disposed between said bottom plate and said centerplate,

said first electrodes and said second electrodes being parallel to each other, with each first electrode being aligned with a second electrode, and

an array of third electrodes embedded in said centerplate and insulated from said first and second electrodes, said third electrodes including apertures which provide a gas communication path from each second electrode to a first electrode,

said third electrodes being oriented at an angle to said first and second electrodes so that each third electrode crosses each of said first and second electrodes, each crossing comprising a gas cell, each crossing ofa second electrode and a third electrode defining a lower cell, and each crossing ofa first electrode and a third electrode defining an upper cell.

8. A gas-filled display panel comprising a top glass plate,

a bottom glass plate,

a center glass plate,

all of said glass plates being sealed together along their peripheries,

an array of first electrodes disposed between said top plate and said centerplate,

an array of second electrodes disposed between said bottom plate and said centerplate, and

an array of third electrodes embedded in said centerplate and insulated from said first and second electrodes, said third electrodes including apertures which provide a gas communication path from each second electrode to a first electrode,

said first electrodes and said second electrodes being parallel to each other, with each first electrode being aligned with a second electrode, said third electrodes being oriented at an angle to said first and second electrodes so that each third electrode crosses each of said first and second electrodes, each crossing and the gas volume between the electrodes comprising a gas cell, each crossing of a second electrode and a third electrode defining a lower cell and each crossing of a first electrode and a third electrode defining an upper cell, each upper cell being generally vertically aligned with a lower cell.

inn: 

1. A gas-filled display panel comprising a top glass plate, a bottom glass plate, and a center glass plate, all of said glass plates being sealed together about their peripheries, an array of first parallel electrodes disposed between said top plate and said centerplate, an array of second parallel electrodes disposed between said bottom plate and said centerplate, each first electrode being coplanar with and positioned above a second electrode, an array of third parallel electrodes embedded in said centerplate and insulated from said first and second electrodes, said third electrodes comprising metallic strips having apertures along their lengths and oriented at 90* to said first and second electrodes, each third electrode in the vicinity of each aperture being vertically aligned with a portion of each first electrode and each second electrode, said portion of a second electrode and said portion of the associated third electrode comprising a first lower cell and said portion of said first electrode and said portion of the associated third electrode comprising a second upper cell, said second electrodes and said third electrodes forming an array of rows and columns of lower cells, said first electrodes and said third electrodes forming an array of rows and columns of upper cells, each upper cell being generally vertically aligned with a lower cell.
 2. The panel defined in claim 1 wherein said first electrodes are seated on the top surface of said centerplate and said second electrodes are seated on the bottom surface of said centerplate.
 3. The panel defined in claim 1 wherein said second electrodes are seated in slots in said bottom plate and said first electrodes are seated on the top surface of said centerplate.
 4. The panel defined in claim 1 wherein said first electrodes are seated in slots in said top plate and said second electrodes are seated on the bottom surface of said centerplate.
 5. The panel defined in claim 1 wherein said second electrodes are seated in slots in said bottom plate and said first electrodes are seated in slots in said top plate.
 6. A gas-filled display panel comprising a top glass plate, a bottom glass plate, a center glass plate, all of said glass plates being sealed together along their peripheries, an array of first electrodes disposed between said top plate and said centerplate, an array of second electrodes disposed between said bottom plate and said centerplate, said first electrodes and said second electrodes being parallel to each other, with each first electrode being aligned with a second electrode, and an array of third electrodes embedded in said centerplate and insUlated from said first and second electrodes, said third electrodes including apertures which provide a gas communication path from each second electrode to a first electrode, said third electrodes being oriented at an angle to said first and second electrodes so that each third electrode crosses each of said first and second electrodes, each crossing comprising a gas cell.
 7. A gas-filled display panel comprising a top glass plate, a bottom glass plate, a center glass plate, all of said glass plates being sealed together along their peripheries, an array of first electrodes disposed between said top plate and said centerplate, an array of second electrodes disposed between said bottom plate and said centerplate, said first electrodes and said second electrodes being parallel to each other, with each first electrode being aligned with a second electrode, and an array of third electrodes embedded in said centerplate and insulated from said first and second electrodes, said third electrodes including apertures which provide a gas communication path from each second electrode to a first electrode, said third electrodes being oriented at an angle to said first and second electrodes so that each third electrode crosses each of said first and second electrodes, each crossing comprising a gas cell, each crossing of a second electrode and a third electrode defining a lower cell, and each crossing of a first electrode and a third electrode defining an upper cell.
 8. A gas-filled display panel comprising a top glass plate, a bottom glass plate, a center glass plate, all of said glass plates being sealed together along their peripheries, an array of first electrodes disposed between said top plate and said centerplate, an array of second electrodes disposed between said bottom plate and said centerplate, and an array of third electrodes embedded in said centerplate and insulated from said first and second electrodes, said third electrodes including apertures which provide a gas communication path from each second electrode to a first electrode, said first electrodes and said second electrodes being parallel to each other, with each first electrode being aligned with a second electrode, said third electrodes being oriented at an angle to said first and second electrodes so that each third electrode crosses each of said first and second electrodes, each crossing and the gas volume between the electrodes comprising a gas cell, each crossing of a second electrode and a third electrode defining a lower cell and each crossing of a first electrode and a third electrode defining an upper cell, each upper cell being generally vertically aligned with a lower cell. 